Burger King

Burger King Corporation (BK for short) is a large international chain of fast food restaurants, predominantly selling burgers, fries and soft drinks.

Hungry Jack's

When Burger King decided to expand their operations into Australia, they found that their business name was already trademarked by a man running a small takeaway food shop. Consequently, the first Australian franchise of the Burger King Corporation, established in Perth in 1971, was aptly titled Hungry Jack's, echoing the name and sentiment of the franchisee, Jack Cowin. Hungry Jack's sells the usual range of burgers, but also an Australian specialty, the Aussie Burger. This burger is based on the traditional Australian fish and chips shop favourite, including fried egg, bacon, onion, and beetroot with the traditional meat, lettuce, and tomato.

Related Topics:
Australia - Trademark - Perth - 1971 - Fish and chips

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the existing Australian trademark for Burger King lapsed, the American parent company wanted Cowin to change the Hungry Jack's outlets to the Burger King name. Cowin resisted the change, preferring to keep the Hungry Jack's name. The disagreement ended in a court case. In 2001, Hungry Jack's won the court case, and Burger King was ordered to pay $75 million to Hungry Jack's for breach of its franchise agreement.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Burger King opened several outlets in Australia under the Burger King name. In some cases Burger King outlets were located very close to existing Hungry Jack's outlets. Cowin negotiated with Burger King to buy these outlets, renaming them in the process.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1986, Hungry Jack's Purchased the ailing Australian Wendy's Restaurant locations and rebranded them to the Hungry Jack's name.

Related Topics:
1986 - Wendy's Restaurant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Even in the United States, Burger King found smaller operations had previously been using the name. One such restaurant in Mattoon, Illinois negotiated a settlement that forbids the chain from opening locations within 20 miles.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hungry Jack's has seen success with their Kids Club mascots, allowing children to have birthday parties at their restaurants based on different themes, and also with their Kids Club Meals (similar to McDonald's Happy Meal), see Burger King Kingdom.

Related Topics:
McDonald's - Happy Meal - Burger King Kingdom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It should also be noted that while Burger King's logo has since changed to the current "blue swirl" design, the Hungry Jack's logo is still (as of 2005) based off the previous Burger King logo, that of the simpler bun-and-contents motif.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~